VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 936, 26 March 1880, Page 2

VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL.

The usual two monthly meeting of the Council was held in the County Offices, Clyde on Wednesday, March 24, ISSO. Present : —Vincent Pyke, Esq, (ChairI man) and Councillors B. Naylor, J. Pitches, ' W. Masters, A. Fraser, M. J. M'Ginnis, - and J. Stronaoh. Mr J. Stronaoh, the newly elected member for Matakanui Riding, vice Mr W. Greenbank, resigned, was introduced to the s Council and took his seat. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, i The Schedules of inward and outward 3 correspondence were read and received. ! The correspondence anent the construe--3 tion of bridge over Lander Creek between the Maniototo and Vincent Counties, was read, the Maniototo Council supporting the 3 erection of a bridge at a site about one mile ■ above the existing road, the Vincent County supporting a site on tho existing road. Cr Stronich proposed—That tho Chair- • man and Crs Naylor and Pitches bo appointed a Sub-Gommittee to inspect and decide on the site of Lauder Bridge, a Seconded by Cr Fraser, and carried. 0 The Chairman at this stage was served j : with a writ for the District Court at tho s suit of J. Drunnny, for moneys alleged to 1 lie duo him on contract, reconstruction of f Macandrew Bridge, Ll4O. f Cr M'Ginnis argued in favour of the rasa

being taken out of Court and settled by arbitration, and proposed accordingly. There being no seconder the motion lapsed. The Chairman stated the matter had been before the Council several times previously when it was always agreed that Mr Brummy had no claim against the Council, the question was whether Mr Brummy on the County Engineer was right and he thought the Court was the be or place to settle in, the,action was more the form of a freiendly one than othermoe and it was better to have it decided by the Court. Resolved that the matter be allowed to take its course. A statement showing the financial position of the County was laid on the table as follows. Inabilities on contracts £l9 517 2 Id Balance in Bank £7 691 10 Bd. The Chairman said the position was most satisfactory and that unless some unconceived circumstances arose the Council need never have to borrow. Letters and ■circulars from Government were also read relative to the amount of impounded laud fund still due. It was stated that over LSOOO had been received, and that still there was L3OOO odd due.— The Chairman was instructed to take such action as would get payment of same. Letters and telegrams re Strath Taieri line-af railway were read. Letter from Mr Harvey, late Road Inspector, was read, .asking to be refunded moneys, L 9, exnended by him in erecting partition in County offices, Cromwell. Cr M'Ginnis said the matter had been before the Council so often that it was getting quite tiresome. So as to pat an end to it he would propose that Mr Harvey be paid L 5 in full of his demand.—Carried. Notice from Rabbit Trustees of rates due on Clyde Commonage was read. R solved—That the Chairman be empowered to pay rabbit rate when due. On memorial for construction of road at Welshtown, the Engineer reported that the road would only benefit a boarding-house keeper. Resolved—That the road be not made at present. Attention was drawn to the destruction of roail through Clyde by a stone-truck used by the contractors for Clyde Bridge, and repot of Engineer to the effect that it will cost L3O to repair the damage, was read. Councillors suggested that the contractors be notified that if they continue the use of the stone-tiuck proceedings will be instituted against them. Cr M'Ginnis deprecated any action being taken arguing that the Council had no right to dictate to the contractors what sort of a conveyance they should use for hauling stone so long as they did not wilfully tear up the road. It was explained the truck used run on rollers and not on wheels and as the driver kept to the centre of the road, it would have the effect if not stopped of destroying the crown of the road and making a gulley. 11. was decided not to further deal with the matter till the councillors had inspected the damage done. 3 he following letter from the proprietor of the Alexandra punt was read : ‘•Alexandra, April 4th, 1880. “To Chaiiman Vincent County. “Sir—ln reply to your letter re leas’ng. the Alexandra Ferry, I beg to state that the proprietors decline to let. it on the same terms as formerly, but will be prepared to enter into an agreement on any of the following conditions, viz : “ 1, They will le4 the Ferry to the County Council tor the sum of 1.600 per annum, subject to tbe old conditions. “ 2 They will sell the entire plant to the Council at a price to be fixed by arbitration. “ 3. They will let the Ferry- at the present rental, provided that the Council will permit them to levy a toll of 6d per horse, and 6d per head of great cattle, and Ll per thousand for sheep ; other traffic to be crossed free. “ 4. They will levy the above tolls and remit the same to ttie County Council, and work tbe Ferry subject to the present conditions for the sum of L6OO per annum. “ As there are a number of matters which may require explanation I will be happy to wait on you for that purpose if you will appoint a time when it would be convenient. “ I have the honour to be, “ Your obedient servant, “John Mackf.rsey." Mr Theyers and Mr M'Kersey were present, the latter of whom stated that the present arrangement was most unsatisfactory to the proprietors, who wished also to add another clause to their letter, viz.—That they would rent the punt to the Council for L 260 per annum. 3 lac Council then went into Committee to consider the question, ami on resuming, reported That the Council was prepared to give Mr M‘Kersey the sum of L 420 per annum for working the punt on the present conditions. The Council then adjourned till 7 p.m. On resuming the Council went into Committee, and on returning to the Council Chamber, adjourned till the next day. On the Council reassembling on Thursday morning, A telegram was read from Mr M‘Kersey agreeing to terms offered by the Council, j The Wowing report of Committee was read and adopted : “That this Council expresses its disapprobation of the unnecessary delays in the construction of the Otago Central Railway, and urges upon the Government the necessity of more energetic action being taken, and that the Mayors of Cromwell and Alexandra be requested to co operate with the Chairman in bringing pressure to bear upon the Government in tbe matter. That on the recommen lation of the Engineer, the surfacemen be retained as at pro•eat.

That the banking account still remain in the Bank of New Zealand.” 1 n referring again to the damage being done to the streets of Clyde by the bridge contractors’ trolly, it was admitted on all sides that a groat deal of damage was being done, and it was resolved—That the Chairman intimate to the contractors that they must desist from using the trolly, Cr M'Ginnis asked if any arrangement had been entered into with the Borough of Cromwell in reference to planting trees on the Cromwell Bridge reserve. He said he asked the question as he did not believe in expending money in decorating the town of Cromwell. If money was wanted to repair roads he would willingly support it. The Chairman said no arrangement had been made. The Engineer’s report on contracts was read. Resolved—That the recommendation of the Engineer, that the original plans of the Alexandra Bridge be carried out. Resolved—That a Committee be appointed to take evidence on the dispute between the contractors of Alexandra Bridge and the Engineer as to price to be paid for concrete foundations of bridge, and report to next meeting. Resolved—That the deposit money of L. Botcher, who throws up contract No. be forfeited. The Engineer’ report on toads was read and adopted. The Engineer’s report on punts and ferries was read and adopted. The Bate Collector’s report, showing L 93 19s rates unpaid, was read. The table showing the annual assessment for the years 1879-80 and 1880-81, was laid on the table : 1879-80. 1880 81. Earnscleugh Riding ... £3735 £3553 Matakanui do .. 3802 4205 Manuherikia do ... 1432 5533 Dunstau do ... 6993 6960 Nevis do ... 2280 2290 Kawarau do ... 2555 2524 Clutha do 3258 3535 Lindis do ... 3163 2968 Hawca do ... 9785 9727 £41,093 £41,295 Appeals against the assessment, four, two of which were lost with costs ; one was not prosecuted, ; and one reduced from LSOO to L4DO. Cr M'Ginnis said great complaints had reached his ears of the conduct of some persons on the Clyde Commonage. It had been represented to him that some people were in the habit of impounding cattle off unfenced ground, and others with dogging them about. He thought something should be done in the matte-. A difference of opinion arose as to the power of the Council to deal with the matter. The Chairman said the offenders, so far as he could glean, were mere settlers on sufferance, and if they continued to offend he thought their right to hold the land should be withdrawn from them ; and further that no right to run cattle on the Commonage should be granted them, Cr Naylor could not see there was any ground for complaint. The common law was that owners of cattle had to see that they did no damage. The matter eventually dropped. Accounts amounting to L 59 10s 6d were passed for payment. Resolved—That tenders for the erection ot two chairs across the Nevis River be accepted. The Council adjourned till 2 p.m. The Council resumed at 2 p m. Notices’of^Motion. 1. Cr Pitches moved—“ That the sum of LSO sterling ,be voted by] the Council for the purpose of celebrating the opening of the Ophir Bridge on its’complelion.” Withdrawn by consent. Cr Naylor moved—“ That the pitched crossing in Sunderland street, Clyde, be put in repair at a cost not exceeding LlO. Agreed to. Amount to be expended not to exceed LlO. 3. Cr Naylor moved—“ That a sum not exceeding LIOO be appropriated to the purpose of forming a nursery of forest trees for planting out and for distributing in the County.” Motion was eventually withdrawn after a long argument, the tenor of which was that the amount asked for was not sufficient lor the purpose, that the land in the County was not as a rule adapted to growing forest trees, and that if private enterprise did not see its W'ay clear to go into the speculation of a nursery, the Council had no right. 4. Cr Naylor moved—That a chair be placed across the Clutha River, near Mutton Town, at a'cost not exceeding L. The motion was lost. 5. Cr Jolly to move That LI7 10a be voted to John Perriam for removing sediment off the Wanaka Road and otherwise rendering the road at the Lowburu lit for traffic after the September floods.” In the absence of Cr Jolly, it was resolved that the motion stand over till next meeting. The vote required by the Engineer was allowed. Cr Fraser, by leave, brought up a lapsed motion of last meeting standing in his name—“ That the sum of L 27 15s bo paid to Mr A. M’Phail for constructing approaches to Lindis Bridge (subject to the -approval of the Engineer).” A long discussion took place over this motion, it being argued that to pass such a motion would be to establish a most dangerous There was no authority for this expenditure, and if it were reccgnised there would bo no end of people doing work they may deem necessary, and after--1 war ds applying to be recouped the expendi- | ture. • 1 I Cr Fraser argued strongly in favour of the vote, urging its necessity. Ultimately it was resolved.that the sum be reduced to Lls.

The Chairman drew attention to the fact that the Chinese were working on the goldfields without miners’ rights, and pointing out the fact that it was the duty of no particular person to see after it. The Chinese constable refused to interfere without being paid. He would ask for instructions in the matter. Resolve!— That the Chairman be instructed to take the necessary steps to collect miners’ right fees from the Chinese. The meeting then closed.